In ternational Journal of 2013; 1(3): 38-46 Published online October 20, 2013 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijp) doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20130103.11

Introduction of in

PhuHop Mai 1, 2, *, JunWu Yang 1

1College of public management, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China 2School of Political Science, Can Tho University, VietNam Email address: [email protected] (P. H. Mai), [email protected] (J. W. Yang) To cite this article: PhuHop Mai, JunWu Yang. Introduction of Pragmatism in Vietnam. International Journal of Philosophy. Vol. 1, No. 3, 2013, pp. 38-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20130103.11

Abstract: Pragmatism is a philosophical school of scientific trend in non-classical formed in late nineteenth century, flourished in early twentieth century. It is the most unique contribution of American thought to the philosophical treasure. This movement penetrated deeply into the American ideological, political, cultural, and social life and became "semi-official philosophy of American lifestyle". During the development process, pragmatism widely circulated in many countries around the world such as England, Italy, Austria, Germany, China, and Vietnam... Pragmatism had influence in Vietnam from about 1945, when a delegation from the University of Michigan arrived in Saigon to help reform the training program at the National Institute of Administration. From that time, Pragmatism was taught in the Institute. Together with educational process, Pragmatism was also spreaded through the establishment of national politics in , and through lifestyle and activities of American soldiers. Until now pragmatism has had much influence on the social life of Vietnam. However, there has not been any research related to this problem, as no studies on the introduction and development of pragmatism in Vietnam. In this paper, we introduce the processes influence and stages of development pragmatism in Vietnam. This study have a great theoretical significance. Keywords: Pragmatism, Educational Cultural Policy, South of Vietnam

1. Introduction

Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that includes cultural, and social life and became "semi-official those who claim that an ideology or proposition is true if it philosophy of American lifestyle". works satisfactorily, that the meaning of a proposition is to Pragmatism was born under the influence of living be found in the practical consequences of accepting it, and conditions and the nature of American social life; it that unpractical ideas are to be rejected, is a philosophical appeared when the philosophy fell into a worldview crisis school of scientific trend in non-classical philosophical and especially crisis of cognitive methods. Along with movement formed in late nineteenth century, flourished in , Structuralism, and Scientism... in the tendency early twentieth century [1]. In the beginning was “The of science or modern , Pragmatism guided Metaphysical Club”, a group of a dozen Harvard-educated "about the reconstruction of the entire philosophy"; their men who met for informal philosophical discussions during key was to implement their "third way" in philosophy, with the early 1870s in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Club the desire to go beyond the and , and members included proto-positivist Chauncey Wright (1830- to dismiss the fundamental issues of philosophy which had 1875), future Supreme Court Oliver Wendell been set in a number of centuries. Holmes (1841-1935), and two then-fledgling philosophers Pragmatism publicly declared to overcome and who went on to become the first self-conscious pragmatists: transformed metaphysical mode of thinking of modern Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914), a logician, philosophy, which meant to bring the abstract philosophical mathematician, and scientist; and William James (1842- concepts onto practical land and to seek for meaning of 1910), a psychologist and moralist armed with a medical philosophical issues in its relation to the human life. The degree It is the most unique contribution of American Pragmatists protest to take the separation between subject - thought to the philosophical treasure [2]. This movement object, nature - phenomenon, mind - characters... as the penetrated deeply into the American ideological, political, starting point of traditional philosophy such as the issue of International Journal of Philosophy 2013; 1(3): 38-46 39

foundation and essence. It suggested bandonning the first place to be influence in Vietnam. This process philosophical systems which considered themselves as associated with the war against American Empire. popular and absolute. They thought that the main task of The South of Vietnam was formed from the 17th century, the philosophy was to identify the and this used to be a wild land area of lowland systems, swamp, methodology of science, putting the research objects of and rivers. This land was developed by the farmers from philosophy and science within the current lifetimes. During various locations in the Central and North of Vietnam and the development process, pragmatism widely circulated in Chinese. After nearly a century, the South of Vietnam was many countries around the world such as England, Italy, considered a cultural region [4]. A century was not long Austria, Germany, China, and Vietnam... time to form a regional culture, and when the new peoples Pragmatism had influence in Vietnam from about 1945, arrived at the new land, they brought along with them their when a delegation from the University of Michigan arrived own cultures which had been formed thousands of years in Saigon to help reform the training program at the ago. Those cultures mixed together and created the National Institute of Administration. From that time, foundation of cultural value system of the South of Vietnam. Pragmatism was taught in the Institute. Together with These values has undergone the interaction with the natural educational process, Pragmatism was also spreaded through and social environment in the history, gradually created the the establishment of national politics in southern Vietnam, cultural values of the South today. The South of Vietnam and through lifestyle and activities of American soldiers. had long historical and cultural process and young strength However, when Vietnam was unified in 1975, due to the which has been built up by the peoples here. From the elimination of American cultural lifestyle, Pragmatism no geographical position, the South became the center of the longer had conditions to develop. In 1986, with the reform acculturation, which gave the region unique characteristics and opening policy, Vietnam created the conditions for and a new face compared to the other cultural areas in acquiring the external factors, and since 1990s with the Vietnam. The system of cultural values in the South establishment of new program for philosophy, Pragmatism included the traditional culture of the nation and the core has been taught in the universities and colleges; some ethnic values which formed the specific cultural style of the ideologies of Charles Sanders Pierce, William James and region. The opening characteristic of a new land created the John Dewey... are introduced, and many graduate theses "dynamic, responsive, dare to think, dare to do" exploit this doctrine. characteristics of the people. Opening characteristic is the To understand the history of Pragmatism in Vietnam, we basis for the admission and acculturation of a number of need to understand two major periods: the period before cultural values. 1975: the period associated with U.S. policies in South From the latter half of the nineteenth century, the trend of Vietnam, and the period from 1986 to the present: the annexation and colonial expansion of the imperialist period of reform, opening, integration, and development. In countries became strong worldwide. Countries in Asia and this period, Pragmatism infiltrated into many aspects of Africa... gradually became the colony of British, France, social life; it also affected the economic - political thinking. Netherlands, Russia, and Germany... Vietnam used to be a In addition to positive impacts, it also caused adverse colony of French colonialists in the mid-nineteenth century. effects on many aspects of society, such as: individualism, After squelching the patriotic movements, and completing selfish, pragmatic, and self-seeking lifestyle, corruption, the basic pacification in Vietnam by military, the French bribery, bureaucracy, indifference to the difficulties of colonists conducted the colony exploitation and imposed a other people, business, dishonest lifestyle... which large-scale policy of domination on the fields of: economy, gradually grew. The Communist Party of Vietnam politics, cultures, and education... in order to make Vietnam recognized and considered those dark sides as "a big risk become a reclamation colony, ensuring the super-profits for and challenge, related to the survival of the Party and the France. "French colonialists forced the stupid people policy regime" [3]. However, until now research works on to mentally enslave the masses; made the masses turned to Pragmatism only aim at introducing the basic ideologies of the crowd of inferiority and cowardice in front of the power some representative philosophers. There has been no of French civilization; made them loose the confidence in research work the history and the development of this the ability of the people and future of the nation; cut off all doctrine in Vietnam. Therefore, this article is a great good traditions to faithfully serve the interests of theoretical significance. imperialism. French colonists implement the educational policy for the only purpose of training interpreters and servants in the colonial administrative agencies, and 2. 1945 to 1975 American Empire’s gradually spreaded French and Vietnamese alphabet, Cultural and Political Policy in the limited the influence of Chinese characters"[5]. South of Vietnam At the beginning of the XX century, the French Colonists not only created a new education, but also eliminated the Pragmatism was formed in in 1870; it influenced many role of the old education. A system of France-Vietnam countries in the world. However, it influenced Vietnam Schools was expanded to replace the Chinese character later than other countries, and the South of Vietnam is the education. Examination courses such as Huong, Hoi, and 40 PhuHop Mai et al. : Introduction of Pragmatism in Vietnam

Dinh were cancelled in order to terminate the role of feudal Vietnam the important area in the strategy against the elites. By 1917, the society of Vietnam was “Frenchified”. communism in Asia and began the intervention The The French Colonists eliminated the good tranditions activities. of , and replaced by dissemination After the agreement, the North of Vietnam gradually program of “French civilization” to create a generation of built the country according to the socialist model of the Vietnamese who loosed their “origin”, without patriotism Soviet Union and China, led by the Communist Party, and and sense of people who loosed their own country, and considered the Marxism-Leninism as the main ideology. became slaves to serve the French dominance. Therefore, philosophy teaching mainly focused on the From 1949, the Civil war of China ended, the North Marxist and Leninist philosophy. Besides, the North of Korea war broke out, and the American politicians were Vietnam also applied the methods of Mao Zedong in the scared about the communism wave in the third world "mass motivation" and building the society. “In general the countries. The U.S. government launched the Domino studying and teaching of Philosophy in the North of Viet Theory, according to which the United States that Nam aimed at swerving the political road of the if a nation followed the Communism, the pro-Western Communist Party of Vietnam, and to describe the state countries nearby would be threatened. Therefore, the policies”[6]. It could be said that the philosophy teaching at United States began to aid the French colonists in the war universities and colleges in the 1960s valued the politics, against Viet Minh (Democratic Republic of Vietnam), an which limited the high generality and scientific abstraction organization that had the relation with the Soviet Union and of philosophy and made the philosophy teaching loose the China. At the same time, the U.S. actively prepared for the important role that was to equip the learners with establishment of "Mekong block" including Cambodia, worldviews and methodology. However, since 1970 the Laos, and Thailand, in order to turn the three countries “politicization” issue in philosophy teaching was gradually along the Mekong River into the military bases, and to use improved. After the country was unified, the teaching, these three countries as the door into Indochina. During this exchanging, and exposure of philosophical period, the revolutionary movement in Vietnam flourish, between the North and the South of Vietnam has the struggle against the French broke out continuously; in contributed to enhance the knowledge and capacity of 1954 the French colonists were defeated in Dien Bien Phu philosophical thinking to a higher level with a more and forced to sign Gienerv 1 Agreement to recognize the objective and scientific view to philosophy besides the independence of Vietnam. According to the agreement, Marxist philosophy. In short, the philosophy spreading in Vietnam was temporarily divided into two zones, the 17 o the North before 1975 mainly emphasized on the Marxist- parallel was considered the border, and in 1955 French Leninist philosophy and the philosophy of ancient China, troops withdrew from the South of Vietnam; however, there other philosophical ideologies did not have conditions to were many provisions in the Agreement relating to their develop. responsibilities which had not been implemented, including The society of the South from 1954 to 1975 showed provision on the organization of Trade union general political chaos. When the North of Vietnam built the election between the North - South of Vietnam. Taking socialism, the people in the South of Vietnam lived in wars, advantage of that opportunity with the "sponsor" guise, but under the under the rule of the Saigon government and the in fact the American Empire considered the South of new American colonialism. There was fierce battling between the new American colonialism and the old French 1 The Geneva Conference (April 26 – July 20, 1954 was a conference colonism. The Social and political situation was always which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, whose purpose was to attempt to unstable; the tense atmosphere was covering. My-Diem 2 find a way to unify Vietnam and discuss the possibility of restoring peace used bribe and violence to eliminate the opposing forces. in Indochina. The Soviet Union, the United States, France, the United The internal contradictions of the Saigon government Kingdom, and the People’s Republic of China were participants throughout the whole conference while different countries concerned with gradually developed. The armed struggling movements and the two questions were also represented during the discussion of their respective questions, which included the countries that sent troops through the United Nations to the Korean War and the various countries that ended 2 Jean Baptiste Ngo Dinh Diem (About this sound listen; 3 January 1901 – the First Indochina War between France and the Việt Minh. The part of the 2 November 1963) was the first president of (1955–1963). conference on the Korean question ended without adopting any In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the declarations or proposals. On Indochina, the conference produced a set of 1954 Geneva Accords, Diem led the effort to create the Republic of documents known as the Geneva Accords. These agreements separated Vietnam. Accruing considerable US support due to his staunch anti- Vietnam into two zones, a northern zone to be governed by the Viet Minh, communism, he achieved victory in a fraudulent 1955 plebiscite. A Roman and a southern zone to be governed by the State of Vietnam, then headed Catholic, Diem pursued biased and religiously oppressive policies against by former emperor Bảo Đại. A "Conference Final Declaration", issued by the Republic's Montagnard natives and its Buddhist majority that were met the British chairman of the conference, provided that a "general election" with protests, epitomized in Malcolm Browne's Pulitzer Prize winning be held by July 1956 to create a unified Vietnamese state. Although photograph of the self-immolation of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in presented as a consensus view, this document was not accepted by the 1963.[3] Amid religious protests that garnered worldwide attention, Diem delegates of either South Vietnam or the United States. In addition, three lost the backing of his US patrons and was assassinated, along with his separate ceasefire accords, covering Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, were brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu by Nguyen Van Nhung, the aide of ARVN General signed at the conference. Duong Van Minh on 2 November 1963, during a coup d'état that deposed his government. International Journal of Philosophy 2013; 1(3): 38-46 41

political struggling movements broke out continuously and French books). However, the scholars in the South which made the Ngo Dinh Diem regime flood in deep crisis, could not have intensive knowledge about Epistemology as the Saigon government fell into awkward and passive well as the ideology of this German philosopher. Thus, Tran situation...The commanders standed out to lead the Van Doan had the comment "The "ghost" of Nietzsche, campaign against Ngo Dinh Diem and made plan to Heidegger, Franz Kafka, as well as the "the trend to make a overthrow the Diem, Nhu government. The U.S. Empire synthesis" of Oriental ideology (for example Rabin Tagore supported Duong Van Minh to overthrow the Diem, Nhu and Daetzu Suzuki), the turned the government, killed Ngo Dinh Diem and Nhu scholars in Sai Gon into the psychoanalysts and halfway (January/1963). Then other successive coups occurred. The phenomenon. Thus, they transformed Epistemology into a political instability leads to instability in many aspects of fashionable "trend", just like Paris fashion" [10]. Besides, life, the wars were fiercer and fiercer. In order to divide Marxism was studied by one scholar. However, those works Vietnam for long time, and to implement the new often discussed about Karl Marx as an intellectual rather colonialism, American Empire massively sent U.S. troops than a rouge. Some works mentioned about revolutionary and aid to the Republic of Vietnam as well as direct joined aspect of Karl Marx but explaned wrongly in order to make in the combat, planning and control war strategies (Special the readers tear away rather than get close to the his war, particular war, and Vietnamization of the war...), at a revolutionary ideals. By using the vague philosophical total cost of over 686 billion U.S dollars (the price in theories, in the name of Marxism they requested to 2008)[7]. American Empire also sent thousands of reconsider Marxism in order to deny the living and specialists in field of military and education to Vietnam. revolutionary soul of Marxism. To reconsider Marxism, The Republic of Vietnam also sent soldiers to the U.S for they tried to value Marx, especially the young period of training. In the society, the atmosphere of oppression and Marx then tried to fight against the successors of Marxism. terrorism covered, the general mood of the people was The stated that Marx in the young period is true Marx, true stress, anxiety, always fell insecure. Many struggles for Humanist. When Marx got older, he went far away from freedom, democracy, welfare, civil rights, struggles for . They also stated that Marx was revolutionary, national culture, and struggles against the invasion of but the successors of his carrier went far away from his foreign culture, and struggles for withdrawal of U.S. troops revolutionary ideologies. The reconsidering scholar took from the South of Vietnam... broke out continuously. away the nature and dogmas of Marxism-Leninism. The Along with the massive American troop landing in the strongest doctrine against the Marxism was - South, the ideas of Western culture, American culture, Personalism 3 ; this doctrine had the slogan “Eliminate Western - America lifestyles were introduced quickly, communism”, it also mentioned about the use of political which significantly affected the lives, thoughts, and culture tools to suppress all patriotic tendencies and the tendencies in Southern urban areas in 1954 - 1975. The society in the against it. Spiritualism - Personalism used to be the main Southern urban areas in 1954 - 1975 was mixed by a official ideological foundation for the political regime, a number of cultures including both Eastern and Western “nation” in the South of Vietnam. It is established by Ngo cultures, but the Western cultures and American cultures Dinh Diem and his brother on the basis of American were the most obvious ones. Many schools of philosophy, supports, so that it protected the interests of the American , literary critic were spreaded into the South to Empire, It fighted against other colonialism which coexist and created a very diverse culture and the cultural competed the interests with the American Empire, itself, life was extremely vibrant. and protected the new government regime. The translation and publishing movements also By the end of 1950s, with the supports of the American developed strongly: In Sai Gon, there were hundreds of Empire-Diem and when Vietnam sent officials and students publishing houses. Besides the book publishing, newspaper to the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other also “developed” well. In 1959 there were "15 weekly countries to study, the French influence gradually faded. newspapers, 31 monthly magazines and semi-monthly And from here, the influence of the United States began to magazines, 32 special magazines publishing weekly and rise. Pragmatism encountered a favorable land to flourish monthly, and the total of Vietnamese magazines was 78"[8]. and grow. But pragmatism came to the South of Vietnam in In field of translation, from 1954 to 1975 the quantity was a different way compared with other places. For example, as follows: 57 works in German, 58 works in Italian, 71 in China, Pragmatism was introduced by its founder - John works in Japanese, 97 works in English, 499 works in Dewey and his student Hi Thich with a pure academic spirit. French, 358 works in Taiwan-Hongkong languages, 120 works in Russian, 273 works in American English [9]. 3 In field of philosophy: From 1945 to the mid - 1950s, Spiritualism – Personalism was a philosophical-political doctrine of Ngo Dinh Nhu (1911 – 1963) based on the Personalism (Le Personalize) of due to the power transfer - social conflicts, and fierce French philosopher Emmanuel Mounier. However, the philosophical war… together with the influence of France…. Almost all foundation originated from the selection of humanism values of the the intelligentsias only pay special attention to . This doctrine was established to make the ideology . Besides, they also pay attention to somewhere between the collective perspective of the communist doctrine Epistemology, Heidegger philosophy (through translations and individualism of capitalist doctrine. This theory is the ideology for Can Lao- Personalism Party. 42 PhuHop Mai et al. : Introduction of Pragmatism in Vietnam

Whereas in Vietnam, Pragmatism was introduced to serve * All citizens have right and obligation to study in order the political purposes, thus Pragmatism in Vietnam was not to develop capability, to complete the dignity, and to serve propagated fully and openly, it had political color rather the nation and mankind. than pure pragmatic, serving the purpose of U.S. * All citizens have the freedom to choose the major, imperialists. Due to this reason, in Vietnam pragmatism curriculum and school which are suitable for them or for was considered “bad, not worth, and despised”. However, their children depending on the capability and orientation. we could not totally deny its historical role in Vietnam. * The nation must facilitate all citizens equally to follow It could be said that the mark for the appearance and the learning depending on the capability. The nation must influence of pragmatism in Vietnam was 1945, when a encourage and support all people who have capability but team of Michigan University arrived in Sai Gon to reform lack learning means. the staff training program at National Administration * The nation must spend part of the state budget for Academy. From that time, the influence of American education development. “pragmatism” education started to develop to become the * The university education must have autonomy to third tradition after “Confucianism” and “classical French” 4. ensure that the training, research, and creation could be Although the new government and American empire made carried out and developed with convenience. “Education is much attempt to reform the Vietnamese education until life itself”. Because Education is life itself, the universities 1964-1965, it was still affected deeply by the French could not separate it from the actual activities, and education. However, the "liberal" philosophical direction knowledge could not be forced from outside. Thus, we do showed a new wind in the education. Until the early year of not have the common education for all people. The teacher 1970s, the innovation process started to speed up. The must be aware of and respect the differences among the Vietnamese education followed the American education students. Education must be the process of the students, not philosophy, building the education on the foundation of the process of the trainers. Education is the process in Jonh Dewey’s educational philosophy written by Lavergne which the learners are the center. In other words, education and Sassani [11] for The National Administration Academy. must be a profoundly democratic process. From this time, the Vietnamese scholars knew about * Respect the scientific spirit, build the democratic pragmatism, and pragmatism was taught in the university education binding theories and actual life. Build the curriculum officially. Besides, the students studying abroad education in which theories go with practice[13]. in the U.S also contributed to the introduction of this However, due to the increase of war, the education doctrine into Vietnam. carrier including University education encounters many In 1972, on the basis of Vietnamese culture and actual difficulties, especially in sending students to study abroad. social demands. The Educational Cultural Council Ministry of Education and School of Universities must compiled the “Educational Cultural Policy”. This policy invite foreign professors to teach the students; however the was built on the American educational spirit, and demand was not satisfied. Therefore, in 1965, a professor particularly from educational philosophy of J. Dewey[12]. worked with the agencies for foreign cultural collaboration That was the liberal, human, active, with quality and to release the slogan “We want to bring the brain in” in memorable achievements. order to đẩy strengthen further supports. In 1971, together The education is human because all people have the right with the establishment of private universities and to receive education for free until the end of High school community universities of American Style, The Vietnam- and to receive support in university and higher education American Association collaborated with Education Council level. under Ministry of Education to implement the program of The education is positive because it always updates new translating American books for the professors and students educational methods from developed countries. The in Vietnam and the dissemination program of general teaching tools and means are equipped fully. The lecturers knowledge about literature, science and art which was and educational managers are always updated with new and implemented by Vietnam - American Association[14]. advanced knowledge. These points make the education In the spirit of liberal education, and with the help of the have high quality. U.S., although the national education only developed for 20 Basic contents of that policy are expressed in the main years (from 1955 to 1975), and was heavily influenced by points as follows: the war and political instability, the state budget was limited and largely spent for national defense and internal 4From the 10 th Century to the early 20 th century, Vietnam was influenced affairs (over 40% of the state budget for national defense, by the Confucianism education. The first “National education workshop” and about 13% for internal affairs, only 7-7.5% of the state held in 1958. The workshop brought about a new view related to budget was spent for education)[15]. The education of the philosophy by proposing 2 principles for education. Three philosophical principles: “Humanism, nation, and liberal.” Identify the transition from Republic of Vietnam developed significantly, met the Confucianism to French education. The second workshop was held in rapidly increasing demand of the people, trained a lot of 1964 discussed about l’école unique of France, focusing on the personal educated and capable graduates to contribute to nation differences among the students. Its second topic was to confirm the three building, and created a solid career. philosophical principles: “Humanism, nation, and liberal”, which was Besides education, Pragmatism also influenced through discussed and accepted in the workshop 6 years ago. International Journal of Philosophy 2013; 1(3): 38-46 43

political - thought struggles of U.S: At the building No. 8, the socialism. During that time, we could see the influences Le Quy Don Street in Saigon there was a sign: United of American cultural in general and philosophy in particular. States Information Service - USIS. It was the name of the United States information service organization for the organization in Saigon, a branch of the United States 3. 1975 - 1995 Establishment of Information Service, under the direction of the U.S. Socialism and Criticize American Embassy in Saigon. USIS not only had media functions, it Culture was also the focal point of psychological war and ideology destruction activities of overseas CIA. Do not have an From 1975 to 1994, the U.S. embargoed against Vietnam, activity of cultural communication apparatus which is not and used its power to prevent efforts which aimed to help derived from the foreign policy of the U.S. State and CIA Vietnam from international countries. During this period, intrigue of the so-called expansion of American power, from 1977 to 1978 Vietnam and the United States American lifestyle, and ideology across the U.S. world. negotiated normalize the relations between the two USIS is delivered direct program activities of dozens of countries but failed, partly because Vietnam required the cultural institutions in the United States Information Saigon United States to compensate for losses and damages which and the provinces of South Vietnam. the U.S caused in Vietnam, but the United States rejected. All cultural and promotional activities of that mechanism In 1993, the United States announced that it no longer oriented from the foreign affair policies of the U.S prevented other countries from lending to Vietnam for loan Government and intention of CIA which was called repayment to the international financial institutions. In American power, lifestyle, and ideology in all over the 1994, President Bill Clinton announced that the U.S world. USIS was appointed to direct the operation program completely removed the embargo against Vietnam and of dozens of U.S cultural and information centers in Sai established a liaison between the two countries. On Gon , provinces, and cities in the South of Vietnam. July 11 th , 1995, President Bill Clinton announced to Directors of USIS were personnel of CIA. In the fierce normalize the diplomatic relations with Vietnam. period of the war from 1966 to 1970 USIS was renamed to Right after 30-4-1975, a wave of national pride and be JUSPAO - Joint United States Public Affairs Office. American culture elimination was spreaded throughout Besides a free source of English-language books was Asia Saigon. Vietnam depended on the U.S in many years in Foundation (Agency for Asian-European Cultural Aid), a fields of military, fashion, music, and food which caused non-commercial organization, which gave books to military large impact on the national psychology. However, those personnel and civil servants for free. With the goal of things quickly disappeared. building the "First Republic", U.S propagandized freedom For the U.S., the embargo against Vietnam was tightened. and democracy issues; they praised the American Washington cut all diplomatic relations with Hanoi. During democracy, American way of life, in which John Dewey’s the years after the war, the embargo was strictly enforced: ideology was one of the ideologies to be introduced There was no form of diplomatic relations between the two popularly… countries, except for some selective activities for In addition to education, political pragmatism affected humanitarian purposes such as sending medicines for Vietnam through economic supports and from the lifestyle disease treatment, or research books - which were still of American soldiers. When the American imperialists limited. For example, some Vietnamese people living in the occupied, they established the generally pragmatic lifestyle U.S. wanted to send 1-2 books to scientific institutions in in Southern urban areas and among the labors as a tool for Vietnam and faced a lot of difficulties: Due to the embargo, enslavement. Unlike in the U.S., the South of Vietnam was U.S. posts returned or destroyed all the reference books "a society almost without any significant production, but sent to Vietnam. In the book "Traveling to Vietnam" (1998), consumed living facilities from the capitalist countries, Mary Hershberger gave the comment when writing about even the far more than capitalist countries”[16]. By the movement of the American peace activists: "The U.S. spreading that lifestyle, the American imperialists gave the government embargoed against Vietnam on each activity Southern people a living habit, so that they could not live and frozen all international relations of Vietnam, and it without the comforts, and forever depended on the U.S. even meant the U.S cooperated with the Khmer Rouge in Empire. Lifestyle of the "consumer society" was not only Cambodia”[17]. confined to physical life, but also into the spiritual life. In The political situation had hostility color: President Ford addition to the publication of books, there were modern vetoed Vietnam's membership in the United Nations; frozen multi-media and movies... which attracted the people to 150 million dollar assets of Vietnam in the U.S, prevented rush for the "fashion" for any price to avoid being Vietnam from joining into the World Bank and The considered "rustic". International Monetary Fund. The U.S Congress even However, the efforts of US Empire-Nguy of establishing applied stronger embargo to prohibit any form of aid or an American society only existed in about 20 years. In 1975, support for Vietnam; and tightened legal procedures for all influence of the US in Vietnam ended, Vietnam achieved immigration. the independence and unity; the country started to establish Not only Americans, Vietnamese people of the old 44 PhuHop Mai et al. : Introduction of Pragmatism in Vietnam

regime after evacuating to the U.S. in 1975 also held was no official statistics, but many researchers estimated hostility against Vietnam. A very large number of them that hundreds thousand of books and tapes and CDs were were "implacable" with communists; even some extremists burned in Saigon during that strategy. The youths not only assaulted and murdered anyone who intended to return to confiscated books and cultural materials in the printing Vietnam to do business, or to support Vietnamese houses and stores, but also on the book shelves in private government [18]. homes. For Vietnam, after the victory spirit of national pride was In terms of education, to rebuild the new education increased. The North's strategy is to destroy and clear the system, the Communist Party of Vietnam recognized that entire Southern literature because it represents a "Teachers and students in universities and professional “reactionary” culture compared with the socialist culture. college in the South are the Vietnamese people; they are the So right after taking over the South of Vietnam, may victims of enslaving and reactionary education. We shall magazines in the North such as Literary Magazine and facilitate them with complete education, so that they will Entertainment magazine etc...published more than 200 quickly become patriotic and socialist intellectuals. We articles about this policy. After liberation, the campaign must strengthen the political and thought education in "hunting remnants of American culture" became more and schools and make it the top mission of education more drastic. Le Duan in the 5th National Assembly sector"[20]. released the Directive: "After the liberation, our people In 1975-1976, in addition to teaching cultural and have done a lot of work to wipe out the traces and remnants professional subjects of new programs and contents, the of such culture. This work should be continued in a program must include coursework in political and social persistent, positive and thorough way."On 26/06/1976, The activities throughout the school year and for all students Central Executive Committee of Communist Party released from the first year to the ending year. further directive: The establishment of new culture is The contents concentrated on three majors: carried out along with the struggle to wipe out the remnants - Great victory of the war against the American of the U.S. culture in the South. It is the culture of imperialists to protect the country. subjugation, which is hybrid, depraved, extremely - The revolutionary way and policy of Vietnam; The way reactionary"[19]. The Directive was implemented through of revolutionary education. the activity of burning books and passing though the - Obligations and rights of the new citizens and strategy “Proscribe depraved-reactionary culture”. The revolutionary cadres. strategy had 2 purposes: (1) In term of politics, proscribe In which, the immediate task was to organize the re- the reactionary ideology against the regime and (2) in term education for all teachers and students who worked and of culture, eliminate the forms of “depraved culture of studied under the old regime. The major contents were capitalism”- specifically the American culture. Marxism-Leninism and elimination against American One of the critical works for the new government when imperialists - Nguy. the Southern regime collapsed was to seal and confiscate To accomplish important tasks of the Party in the field of books in the libraries. The works of major publishers and ideology, the Ministry of University (now the Ministry of bookstores in Saigon such as the Khai Tri, Song Moi, Doc Education and Training) sent Marxism - Leninism teachers, Lap, Dong Nai, Nam Cuong, and Tri Dang... were sealed including philosophy teaching staffs to the South to teach and banned. Marxism-Leninism (including philosophy) for almost all There were many writers in the South of Vietnam who universities; the teaching subjects were all lecturers and specialized in different fields. In terms of Western students who were working and studying under the old philosophy: Le Ton Nghiem, Tran Van Toan, Tran Thai regime, in order to make the consistency of ideology Dinh, Nguyen Van Trung, and Tran Bich Lan ... Eastern system in the country. The Marxism-Leninism staffs and Philosophy: Nguyen Dang Thuc, Nghiem Xuan Hong, leturers in general and philosophical lecturers in particular Nguyen Duy Can, Nguyen Khac Kham, Nghiem Toan, Kim performed this task. And it could be seen that in nearly 15 Dinh, and Nhat Hanh... In term of editing: Nguyen Hien Le, years after the liberation, the philosophy teaching strongly Gian Chi, Le Ngoc Tru, Le Van Ly, Truong Van Chinh, Dao focused on Marxist-Leninist philosophy, other Van Tap, Pham The Ngu, Vuong Hong Sen, Thanh Lang, were not concerned properly, especially American Nguyen Ngu I, Nguyen Van Xuan, Le Tuyen, Doan Them, philosophy (except for ). Hoang Van Chi, Nguyen Bat Tuy, Phan Khoang, Pham Van Son, Nguyen The Anh, Nguyen Khac Ngu, and Nguyen Van Sam ... 4. The Turning-Point of Innovation Entire books published in the South of some authors Process for Teaching Philosophy mentioned above were "equated" as the remnants of the American-Nguy regime, enslaving, reactionary and In the early 1990s of the 20th century, recognized the depraved culture. Authorities at the level of wards, districts, importance of teaching the science subjects of Marxism- and cities released the directives to collect all sorts of books, Leninism and philosophy in the new period, Communist novels, reference books, and textbooks to burn out. There Party of Vietnam was established a council to recompile the International Journal of Philosophy 2013; 1(3): 38-46 45

new curriculum for science subjects Marxist-Leninist and front of the challenges. But Vietnam still lacks the philosophy on both content and form. The new independence of philosophical thinking, and lacks famous development of in Vietnam is the philosophers. There are periods, time, and places where introduction of the history of philosophy beyond Marxist philosophy is not understood properly, the philosophy is not (before Marxist and modern Western) into the curriculum. treated with fairness and lack of esteem. And the The curriculum was kept partly for pragmatism, and philosophy program in the universities nowadays reference books also introduce the thought of some (especially in the book "The basic principles of Marxism- pragmatists as Chales Peirce, William James, and John Leninism") is containing many shortcomings; the Dewey. Many graduated thesis and post university also philosophy is still not understood well and comprehensively. study Pragmatism. Previously, pragmatism and modern In some universities and training institutions, there are Western philosophical movements barely been introduced philosophy department, only philosophical students are or have been introduced aiming to critical. At this time, the studying philosophy in a fairly complete way. However, philosophy study of Western capitalist not only to condemn most students and high education students of other fields and criticize but also to find out the strong point, positive only know a very small portion of a particular philosophy, side and the true value of this philosophy. With the motto of which is Marxist-Leninist philosophy. And there is sad research on the spirit of innovation is respected all different story when even Marxist-Leninist philosophy is now cultures including philosophy. "integrated" with political economics, and scientific In order to implement this task, Communist Party of socialism to become a subject with abstract name and Vietnam considers: "Innovative teaching staff, teaching and difficult to understand "Basic principles of Marxism- learning methods, rewritten textbooks" is the main task. Leninism". This program only focuses on a particular The Prime Minister has signed a decision to establish the philosophy, and does not introduce about the development Central Council compiled under the direction of the of philosophical thought of humanity. There are few national curriculum the science subjects of Marxist- research papers with high scientific value or great works of Leninist, Ho Chi Minh Ideology and funding for the KX.10 philosophy in Vietnam. At the same time, many famous program to compile 5 curriculum unit, in which including philosophers of different philosophical schools do not have Marxist-Leninist Philosophy (published in 1999). The the appropriate voice and position in the minds of students curriculum has been tried many innovations in the direction and graduate students. Besides, many achievements of of increasing the historical pre-Marxist philosophy and philosophical mainstreams and schools such as which is the basis for the right existentialism, positivism, and pragmatism ... have not been awareness on Marxist-Leninist Philosophy inherited and widely introduced. developed. As mentioned above, Vietnam is now paying too much However in 2008, Ministry of Education and Training attention on a particular philosophy - Marxism - Leninism issued a new curriculum for the political theory courses at philosophy. Therefore, the introduction of other universities and colleges. According to the Decision on philosophical ideologies of humanity will create powerful issuing 52/2008/QD-GDDT on promulgating the program incentives to promote thinking and in of political theory courses for colleges and universities to Vietnam, contributing to help the Vietnamese philosophy teach students who were not specialized in Marxism- keep up with the development of humanity. Thus, Vietnam Leninism and Ho Chi Minh ideology. The political theory can actually bring about the new life for philosophy, program included 3 subjects: The basic principles of enhance the effectiveness of philosophy teaching and Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh ideology; and training in the present context - the context of the Revolutionary policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam. globalization and internationalization, which taking place This program rejected the history of philosophy. Hence the powerfully. writer and educator- Nguyen Ngoc gave the comments in "Nghi Doc Duong"- Think along the way that "… I think 5. Conclusion Marxist-Leninist philosophy is necessary, the subjects mentioned above (3 subjects) may also be necessary. But Pragmatism has affected Vietnam and it has left unique why, at least at the university level, the general philosophy marks; it is now affecting many aspects of the social life. and history of philosophy, including both Eastern and This Philosophical school was introduced into Vietnam in a Western philosophy are not taught and introduced. Marxist different way compared to other places, such as in China or - Leninist Philosophy may be the peak of philosophy, but it Japan. In the South of Vietnam, pragmatism was introduced certainly is not the only philosophy of humanity, nor the in conjunction with political purposes and lifestyles of last philosophy in the history. If the students do not know American soldiers. It was this reason why Pragmatism was philosophical history of humanity basically, their always despised and misunderstood. Therefore, the knowledge of Marxist-Leninist philosophy will also be comprehensive research and introduction of this doctrine in poor and superficial…"[21]. a scientific way has significant meaning, thereby to help Vietnam has a long traditional history, rich and Vietnamese people see the development of human diversified cultures, with deep thought, strong bravery in knowledge and understand the value of a philosophical 46 PhuHop Mai et al. : Introduction of Pragmatism in Vietnam

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